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First of all...WOW! Thank you for all of the comments. I have taken major notes of the challenges you find with mini albums and I am going to make sure that they are all addressed in the Product Playground 2: The albums class. Awesome! So thanks!
Ok...I played with the little Random thingie....
Oh...so you can't really see it. The numbers are 33, 28 and 18. So that means....
Catherine
The discussion went something like this....
"I'm not afraid, I just can't quite reach that rock, so you move it"
"I'm not afraid either, but it is kind of heavy for me, why don't you move it?"
and it went on like that. They played under that tree moving rocks for about an hour. It was hysterical.
The rest of the time was spent playing various games in Todd's room, and of course, doing this:
You've probably heard this a time or two today...and it is so true. If you read my blog or have checked out my newest class at BPS, you know that I LOVE mini albums. L-O-V-E in all caps LOVE.
So imagine how happy I was to see this book in the magazine aisle of Target the other day?
I couldn't wait to get it home and devour it. I've yet to buy a special issue of SIMPLE that hasn't totally inspired me. I knew this would be no exception. Before I could settle down to read it, I got an email asking me to be part of this little blog tour. I was SO excited!
As expected this book does not disappoint. So many mini album ideas in one place and all totally DO-Able. I thought I had a long list of mini-albums that I wanted to create in the near future, but the list just got longer thanks to this book.
I love to create albums of all sizes and this book is broken down into sections by album size...and from start to finish there are examples of albums of every size and shape which is totally cool.
I am so excited that they sent me 3 copies to give away, as well as those cool little buttons pictured above. If you don't happen to win, you can pick up a copy on newsstands now, or order it here.
So leave me a comment about what challenges you most about mini albums, and I will randomly choose 3 winners. Since I'm a late night blogger, I won't choose until 10pm Pacific time tomorrow night!
Sorry about the song...it is one of Todd's favorites. I should really video him dancing to it, that is quite the treat.
So the other day at lunch Todd was drawing a picture in my notebook that I keep in my purse (you know, me and notebooks). It was turning out really cute and I told him I wanted to keep it. He was pretty proud of himself. It looked like this.
So the next day, Matt and I were driving along and Todd asked for my notebook. He said he wanted to draw a farm this time. So he was happily drawing along in the back seat and when he was done he couldn't wait to share.
He handed it up front and it was quite cute, I especially love the animals.
Then he says, "I made all of those lines on the front of the barn, because aren't barns kind of plaid mom?"
Todd got his first "hat trick" today on the last game of the summer season. Did you know that Hat trick is a term for almost every sport? I thought it was just a soccer and hockey thing. Who knew?
Anyway, I found myself taking less action shots today (how many photos of my kid kicking the ball in the same uniform do I need really?) Instead I took some photos that really represent Todd this season.
Like...hmmm...which kid do you think is mine?
and isn't it nice that he is so enthusiastic about shaking hands?
I also had to take a few photos of one of the rare moments when he was sitting still.
I tried to get a photo of the look he was getting on his face after scoring his goals today. Part smug, part happy, part aw shucks....a face that actually perplexes me but is funny none the less.
And of course, what season is complete without a medal? I was so proud that his favorite part was that the ribbon matched his uniform. That's my boy.
In other news I realized that Todd has been tying his own shoes for a couple of months now, and I just managed to get a photo of him doing it today. It still requires a certain amount of concentration, but he does a bang up job!
Plans...Matt and I are hatching one to re-do the garage...as in taking everything out of it (yes everything) and doing something to the floor, painting the walls, and only putting back what we need and what we can organize. Should be interesting. I'll be sure to take photos, even though the before is completely appalling.
Blogging from bed because Matt wanted to watch a gory movie and I wasn't in the mood for blood and guts tonight. I feel so decadent sitting here with all of my pillows and my Mac on my lap...this is the life!
One more thing... a couple of people have emailed asking about my signature on my photos. It is just a photoshop brush that I made. I know very little about such things, but was able to google some simple instructions here. The font is called Serendipity by the fabulous Miss Kelly Purkey. You can get the font here if you are interested. Once you have a brush made you simply stamp it on your photos and you are all set! I hope that helps some!

It is a big ole stack of mini albums, and it makes me very happy. Class prep is in full swing and I'm loving it.
Speaking of mini albums. Check out this one that my mom made. My mom rocks. She always acts like the whole creativity thing is work for her, but I know the truth. She's just got it...and I'm glad, because I don't think I'd have it without her.
One more cool mini album I want to share. I got an email from a student a while back that she was struggling with her Scrapbooking:It Matters album from a class I taught a while ago. That is one of the things I love about BPS, she couldn't work on the project during the scheduled class time, so she downloaded all of the instructions, and was working on it in her own time. I'm always available to my students, so she and I emailed a few times about the process. She was concerned about pushing herself creatively and I gave her the ever so helpful advice to just "let it go"..and to "have fun". It sounds so lame, but I really do think that is the key to everything.
So anyway, Lacey shared her finished project with me and I was blown away. You can see it here. I'm thrilled that she loved the project and her end result and that another scrapbooker is appreciating just how cool (and important) this hobby is!
More on mini albums soon!
but this one ended on a good note, so I'm not complaining.
It started out a little rough...as a matter of fact at one point it was literally rough when a guy more or less attacked my car (with me in it) in a parking lot. It was crazy.
It took me hours to stop shaking. Add to that that the last couple of days have been a little shaky anyway and today was a doozie. My mom gave us a little health scare and frankly it has done a number on me. Today we spent the day dealing with doctor stuff and finally tonight got the all clear that she is fine.
I'll be saying extra prayers of gratitude tonight and then some.
when I just have nothing to say....or more to the point, I don't have the energy to come up with something to say. I'm pooped. I hate to cop out...but it is just one of those nights. sorry.
to blog about tonight! Today my boy and I just hung around the house. I got some work done, including a fun album for my class. We had a wonderful day together. At one point I worked on one table of my office and he worked on a project on the other and I was taken with just how nice it was...just me and my boy hanging out.
Tomorrow more of the same is on tap. There are only a few weeks of summer left and this is the first week that we really haven't had much planned. It is kind of nice. In just 4 short weeks my boy will be a Kindergartner....Tuesday afternoon Wii tournaments and side by side creating will be a thing of the past.
Gee...when I put it like that it makes me kind of sad.
Jenny D
You are the winners!! Email me at damrosch@yahoo.com or lisad@bigpicturescrapbooking.com and please put Mini is Big in your subject line! I will get your books and buttons out right away. CONGRATULATIONS!!
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The playdate I'm posting about isn't the oldschool Playdates we've been playing around here, but I will be putting together another one of those soon too.
No this playdate was the old fashioned kind. Todd had a friend over today and I have to say they just cracked me up. I love listening in to their discussions and interactions. My favorite was when they were in the back yard "bug hunting". They didn't know I was watching through the window. (The photo is fuzzy because of the screen.)